Donor Advised Funds

The Sierra Fund’s Donor Advised Fund allows you to make a sizeable donation when it is most appropriate for you while allowing you time to consider how you wish to recommend the distribution of the gift.

It is a convenient and flexible way to manage your charitable giving and spares you the cost and legal complexities of establishing a private foundation.

Advantages

  • Significant Gift
    You can play a significant role in helping The Sierra Fund attain its mission of restoring ecosystem and community resiliency in the Sierra Nevada region.
  • Family Involvement
    You can involve your family in your philanthropic goals.
  • Tax Savings
    You may realize tax benefits that are greater than those obtained from a private foundation. Gifts are fully tax deductible in the year you make the gift. Gifts of long-term appreciated property (owned for a year and a day or longer) may be deducted up to a maximum of 30% of adjusted gross income (up to 50% of adjusted gross income for cash gifts). Unused portions of the deduction can be carried forward for an additional five years.
  • No Reporting
    You have no legal, administrative or reporting requirements associated with a Donor Advised Fund.
  • Accountability
    The Sierra Fund will ensure that your Donor Advised Fund is working to its maximum effectiveness on behalf of conservation in the Sierra Nevada. You will receive quarterly updates and an annual report that documents the successes that your fund has accrued, and opportunities to spend time on the landscapes that you have permanently protected.

How It Works

It’s a simple and straightforward process. You sign a letter of understanding and make an irrevocable gift to The Sierra Fund. Your Donor Advised Fund will be invested as a separate account within the Sierra Fund’s capital account and will be attributed the same percentage of income as the capital account.

At least 5% of the fund must be distributed annually, although, of course, distributions may be larger.

When you wish to recommend a distribution, you simply notify us on a form letter we supply to you.

Making a Gift

Gift Requirements

Minimum Initial Gift Amount: $5,000

Minimum Subsequent Gifts: No minimum

For more information on the Donor Advised Fund or other planned gifts, please e-mail info@sierrafund.org or call (530) 265-8454.


See Also:

Sarah Forslund Fund for Environmental Leadership – is a memorial Donor Advised Fund, furthering the values by which Sarah Forslund lived her life: developing effective environmental leadership, supporting strong communities and preserving our natural resources.

Funds – The Sierra Fund’s various types of funds allow donors to tailor their gifts to their personal interests and also provide maximum impact.

Grantmaking – The Sierra Fund has invested more than $2 million of private financial resources in conservation efforts throughout the Sierra Nevada region.